Hitching device.



No. 655,858. Patented'Afig. :4, I900.

I S. F. ETTINGER.

HITGHING DEVICE.

(Application filed Mat. 15, 1900.) (No Model.)

y wi t mom m: uonms PEI'ERS co.. vnoYo-umo, WASHINGTON, o. c.

SAMUEL F. ETTINGER, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

HITCHING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,858, dated August 14, 1900. Application filed March 15, 1900. Serial No- 8,8l8. (No model.)

To CLZZ' whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. ETrINenR, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Little Rock, in county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented anewand useful Hitching Device, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

This invention relates to improvements in hitching devices; and its objectis to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this class whereby a strap may be quickly passed around a post or tree and securely tightened upon the same, so that it can neither become detached nor slip down.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings,which form a part thereof,and in which Figure l is a perspective View of my invention shown in applied position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section.

Similar numerals of reference designate like and corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The invention as shown consists of two parts-a casing 10, within which is housed a Hat spring 11. The casing 10 is preferably made of a single blank of sheet metal struck to proper form and consisting of the angular sleeve 12, its ends. Upon the outer face of one side, at one end, is the spring-tongue 13, which, as shown, is formed integral with the sleeve, projects from one edge thereof, and is bent backwardly and downwardly, as at 14, this downwardly-bent portion being close to the adjacent side of the sleeve. The free end of the spring 13 is bent upwardly to form a guiding-lip 15 for the reception of a metallic ring or loop, as 16, whichis secured to the end of the hitching-strap and which is of a relatively-narrow width, whereby when in position a straight pull thereon toward the mouth of the book will cause a binding engagement thereof with the side of the sleeve and with the terminal lip portion of the hook. The side of the sleeve 12 which carries the spring-tongue is also provided near its central portion with an angular opening 17. Upon the inner end edges of the side of the sleeve opposite to the side having the openhaving flat sides and open at ing are the upstanding retaining-flanges 18, Whose outer faces are flush with the end of the sleeve. Loosely housed withinthe sleeve is the flat bowed spring 11, the ends of which rest upon the side opposite the opening 17 and are retained in place by the flanges 18, which prevent the longitudinal displacement of said spring. The central or bowed portion of the spring is directly under the opening 17, leaving a very small space between the adjacent faces of said spring and side.

In assembling the parts the hitching-strap 19 is first passed through the sleeve and the spring inserted. The spring will thereupon press the strap snugly against the inner face of one side, the edges of the opening in such side assisting in holding the strap against longitudinal movement. This frictional con tact, however, is not so great but that it allows the strap to be pulled through as desired.

In operation the parts being in position, with the loop 16 unhooked, the strap is passed around a post or tree, the loop is engaged under the hook, and the strap is pulled through the casing until the portion which encircles the post or tree is pulled tightly around the same. On account of the frictional clamping action the strap will be tightly held in place and there is no chance of accidental displacement, as any pull by the animal held by the strap will only tend to draw it tighter. Another advantage lies in the peculiar configuration of the hook 13, which prevents accidental displacement or pulling out of the loop, for, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, upon a straight back pull the downward pressure upon the end of the tongue would prevent the loop from being pulled out. To loosen the device, the thumb is pressed upon the strap through the opening '17 and the strap is slid back until the loop can be released from the hook, whichis easily accomplished by the person giving a side twist to the loop, which will easily free it from the hook.

The device, however, may be constructed without the opening 17, if so desired, in which case to loosen the strap the sleeve is grasped in the hand and worked back and forth laterally, whereupon the strap will be sufficiently slipped through the sleeve to allow of its be ing taken hold of by the hand and pulled out as far as desired. This construction affords a very simple and inexpensive device of this character, being composed of two parts-the 5 fiat spring and the casing -which can be made at very slight expense, being preferably constructed of a single blank of sheet metal struck to the proper shape.

From the foregoing it is thought that the constru ction,operation,and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and -minor details of construction will be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. A device of the class described, comprising a sleeve having its opposite ends open, retaining-flanges arranged along the inner end edges of one side of said sleeve, a bowed spring loosely housed within the sleeve, and

adapted to clamp a strap passed through the same, said spring having its ends resting upon the side and arranged between the said flanges whereby it is retained in place, and a hook arranged upon one side of the sleeve, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a-sleeve, of a spring-hook arranged upon one side of the sleeve, and having an outturned terminal lip portion, one portion of said hook being in juxtaposition to the side of the sleeve, and a loop adapted to be sprung upon the hook, said loop being of a relatively-narrow Width whereby a straight pull thereon toward the mouth of the hook will cause a binding engagement thereof with the side of the sleeve and with the terminal lip portion of the hook, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL F. ETTINGER.

Witnesses:

N. D. McGABE, O. W. KRATTS. 

